System and Method for Data Acquisition and Processing

ABSTRACT

A portable service escrowed event reporting system that may be sold through mass-market sales channels. Communications between a consumer and the provider of the event reporting system are not required in advance of the system being purchased by the consumer. After purchase of the system by the consumer, the system may be initialized. The service may have a finite amount of service associated with it when it is purchased. The consumer may choose to have the system report the occurrence of reportable events directly to them over a wireless network.

PRIORITY APPLICATION

The present invention claims priority to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 60/899,780, filed on Feb. 6, 2007, which is hereby fullyincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a wireless event reportingsystem for home, office, or a temporary location that is suitable formass-market distribution and configured for transport to differentinstallation sites.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional event reporting systems are typically permanently fixed toa location, installed by a service company, and monitored over telephoneor data communications services. These systems may have sensors ordetectors permanently installed to detect reportable events, such asintrusion or environmental conditions, which preclude the system frombeing easily removed and used at another location. Further, conventionalevent reporting systems are typically limited to reporting reportableevents to a service company (i.e., a monitoring agency) using fixedcommunications services, such as landline telephone service, Internet,or derived data channels. Therefore, as is usually the case, theconsumer of the event reporting system may only receive a notice ofreportable events if someone at the monitoring service company acts tocontact the consumer. Accordingly, in conventional reporting andmonitoring systems, the consumer does not have the option of having thereportable events reported directly to them by the event reportingsystem.

Further, because conventional event reporting systems are typicallyinstalled and monitored by a service company, consumers typically mustagree to a service contract or otherwise communicate with the monitoringservice company prior to the installation of the event reportingsystems. For example, it is not uncommon for a consumer to schedule an“installation” time with the service company and/or make advance paymentfor monitoring services. Thus, with conventional event reportingsystems, the consumer is required at some point of time to disclose hisor her identity to the service company.

Additionally, as noted, conventional event reporting systems areinstalled by a service company, typically by using service technicians.This adds additional cost to the event reporting system and, oncepermanently installed, keeps the event reporting system from beingeasily moved to another location by the consumer. Because of this, theconsumer may be reluctant to use a conventional event reporting system.For example, installation costs and other costs of the event reportingsystem may be cost prohibitive for some consumers. Additionally, if aconsumer would like to monitor the security or environment of a spacetemporarily, they may not want to expend time or money on a permanentalarm system. In these instances, conventional event monitoring systemsdo not provide a viable option to meet consumers' demands. Accordingly,there currently exists a need in the art for a widely-available, serviceescrowed portable monitoring system that a consumer may convenientlypurchase and install anywhere he or she chooses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The portable monitoring system described herein may be sold andpurchased through widely-available, mass-market channels. For example,the system may be sold in a blister-pack-type package at a retail outletfor purchase by consumers. The consumer may install the system in anylocation, including, but not limited to, a home, office, vehicle, ormotel room. Unlike conventional systems, no communication between theconsumer and the provider of the event monitoring service are requiredto use the system. Further, since the device may be purchased withescrowed service, no billing arrangements or contracts with a serviceprovider are necessary.

After selecting the portable system, the consumer may proceed to setupthe event reporting system in any location. The event reporting systemmay comprise a microprocessor based controller (hereafter referred to as“controller”) with short range wireless communications capability forcommunicating with wireless sensors and long range wirelesscommunications capability, such as audio and data over cellulartelephony. The event reporting system also comprises one or more eventdetectors for monitoring security intrusions or other environmentalevents (e.g., fire, carbon monoxide, etc). The event detectors cancommunicate detected reportable events via short range wirelesscapabilities or wired communication paths. Events that may be detectedby a detector may be referred to hereinafter broadly as “reportableevents.” The event reporting system may also comprise one or more humaninterfaces, such as an LCD screen or speaker for conveying informationto the consumer, primarily during installation, and a keypad ormicrophone for conveying information from the consumer to thecontroller. Additionally, the event reporting system may comprise ahuman interface for conveying information to or from the consumer via atelecommunication path by tomes, email, data packets, or speechrecognition and synthesis.

Once the event reporting system has been set up, the consumer mayinitialize and event monitoring service through the controller. Forexample, upon powering up, the controller may contact a remotemonitoring station or other third-party host server over a wirelessnetwork. The controller may convey its identity to the remote monitoringstation so that the escrowed service pre-associated with that identitymay be activated for time, data volume, or both. The remote monitoringstation may request information from the consumer, including, but notlimited to, an identification for processing remote commands receivedfrom the consumer (e.g., a code that may be found with the packaging forthe system or created by the system) and information for directlyreporting reportable events to the consumer (e.g., a mobile devicenumber). Also, the remote monitoring station may request informationfrom the consumer to identify how the consumer desires to receivereportable event information, for example, a telephone number to becalled for synthesized voice reporting or an email address for reportingevent information as text.

After initialization, the event reporting system may detect, through theuse of the sensors and detectors, the occurrence of any reportableevent. If an event is detected, the event reporting system may contactthe consumer directly or forward information to the remote monitoringstation. If the consumer is contacted directly by the event reportingsystem, the message may be sent to the consumer via a wireless networkin the form of a Short Message Service (“SMS”) or data connection overcommercially available wireless communication service's data channels,including but not limited, to General Packet Radio Service (“GPRS”),1XRTT, 1XEV-DO, 1XMC, 3XMC or WCDMA. Further, if an event is reported tothe remote monitoring station, it may subsequently be forwarded to theconsumer using one or more of the aforementioned commercially availablewireless data services.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a functional block diagram of an operatingenvironment for a portable event reporting system, according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a logic flow diagram for using the portable eventreporting system, according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a logic flow diagram for initializing and using theportable event monitoring system, according to an exemplary embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a logic flow diagram for using the portable eventreporting system to detect and report reportable events; according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The inventive system comprises a transportable, wireless system that maybe used at any location chosen by a consumer, including, but not limitedto, a consumer's home, office, or temporary location. An exemplaryembodiment of the present invention is designed for commercialdistribution and may be sold through mass-market sales channels inappropriate packaging, such as in a blister-pack where the system can beseen by prospective consumers. Mass market sales channels may include,but are not limited to, supermarkets, convenience stores, andsuperstores.

The system, in one exemplary embodiment, may comprise a disposablecontroller. Further, the system may provide escrow event reporting(i.e., pre-paid event reporting services). One advantage of the escrowedevent reporting system over conventional systems is that it does notrequire communications with a service provider prior to purchase; thatis, the consumer may purchase the portable event reporting systemwithout communicating with the provider to set up a billing identity orprovide other identifying information. Furthermore, because the systemis capable of being compact in size, wireless, and easy to install, aconsumer may move the system to different locations, unlike thepermanent setup associated with conventional systems.

As noted above, the portable event reporting system does not requirethat a billing identity be established for the consumer. According to anexemplary embodiment, the transportable service escrowed event reportingsystem connects to a remote server, such as a remote monitoring station,when the product is powered on for the first time. By doing so, theremote monitoring station determines and activates the escrowed servicefor the system. Additionally, the escrowed service may be activated bythe consumer entering a device identity, such as the InternationalMobile Equipment Identity (IMEI), a number unique to every GSM and UMTSwireless telephone, or Electronic Serial Number or MEID of CDMA andother wireless networks, by using a keypad and/or liquid crystal display(“LCD”) located on a controller of the system, or via speech recognitionand voice synthesis using a microphone and speaker in the controller.Alternatively or additionally, the consumer may convey the systemidentity to activate the escrowed service by placing a telephone call toa remote host server capable of interacting through voice prompts orDTMF tones. For example, in one exemplary embodiment, the consumer maybe provided the option of calling a 1-800 number that connects to aremote monitoring station to initialize the event reporting system afterit has been purchased.

Because the event reporting system is designed to be portable, in anexemplary embodiment, all communications within the monitored premises,as well as the remote delivery of alarms, can be performed via wirelesscommunications. For instance, in an exemplary embodiment, the controllermay receive notice of reportable events through short range wirelessevent detectors, including, but not limited to, door/window openingdetectors, glass breakage detectors, motion detectors, temperaturedetectors, and smoke detectors. These sensors and detectors may beimplemented using industry-standard, short-range, wireless sensors.Wireless sensors typically communicate over a radio-frequency spectrum,such as those utilized by IEEE standards 802.14.4, 802.11 or 802.15.1,and do not utilize cellular telecommunications services; however, thecontroller and detectors may use any wired or wireless protocol tocommunicate, including any other short-range wireless communicationsknown to one of ordinary skill in the art.

Upon the detection of a reportable event, the event reporting system mayreport the event either “direct” to the consumer or through anintermediary, such as a remote monitoring station. In an exemplaryembodiment, direct alarm reporting can be implemented by a directcommunication path to the consumer using a “controller to consumer”approach. For example, a reportable event can be communicated directlyto the consumer through any one of several mediums including, but notlimited to, email conveyed from the controller by via wirelesstelephone-based Short Messaging Service (SMS) or data connectionprotocols, such as email, and over commercially available wirelesscommunication service's data channels, including but not limited to1XRTT, 1XEV-DO, 1XMC, 3XMC or WCDMA or General Packet Radio Services(GPRS). Such messages are typically presented to the consumer on theircellular telephone screen, pager, personal digital assistant (“PDA”), orpersonal computer. Alternatively, direct alarm reporting can be achievedin the form of speech, where alarm information is converted into audiosynthesized speech and conveyed from the controller to a consumer'spredefined telephone number in the form of spoken words.

As mentioned above, alarm reporting may also be accomplished through anintermediary using the event monitoring system. In an exemplaryembodiment, this intermediary may be the remote monitoring station, andthe controller of the event reporting system may contact the remotemonitoring station using alarm-industry, standard tone sequences withinthe audio channel of wireless telephony, or via data representations ofeither alarm industry data formats or proprietary protocols conveyed bythe SMS or data channels of wireless telephony, such as described above.

The transportable service escrowed event reporting system may beconfigured when it is first turned on or subsequent thereto.Configuration of the system may be accomplished via an LCD screen and/orkeypad located on the controller. Alternatively or additionally,configuration may occur by the consumer dialing a 1-800 number toprovide information to the remote monitoring station, which may in turnprovide pertinent information (e.g., a telephone number for reportingreportable events) to the controller through a network (as discussedbelow). Additionally, system reconfiguration may be accomplished viadata messages conveyed from the consumer's wireless telephone in theform of SMS or other data messages, which may be carried by the datachannels of the serving cellular system. Also, reconfiguration may beaccomplished by calling a 1-800 number to access the remote monitoringstation.

When configuration is accomplished remotely, it may be important toauthenticate the consumer. Accordingly, in one exemplary embodiment,authentication of the consumer's identity can be accomplished by thesystem's recognition of the consumer's calling line ID (CLID), which maybe previously registered through functions of the configuration LCDscreen and keypad located on the controller or provided to the remotemonitoring station. Thus, in order to authenticate the consumer, theconsumer may be required when configuring the system to enter anidentification that can be used to authenticate his or her identity ormobile device. This identification may comprise an identity for theevent reporting system or another unique identification, such as apersonal identification number (“PIN”) selected by the consumer.

Alternatively or additionally, system configuration and/orreconfiguration can be accomplished via data messages conveyed in theaudio channel of the consumer's wireless telephone via DTMF tonesequences from the consumer's telephone. Similarly, systemconfiguration/reconfiguration may be accomplished via speech recognitionof words spoken by the consumer and conveyed from the consumer'scellular telephone over the voice channel of a telephone service. Forexample, a consumer may connect to the controller through a wirelessnetwork and speak a pass-code previously registered with the system inorder to re-configure the system.

Turning to the several figures, in which like reference numeralsrepresent like elements, FIG. 1 illustrates a representative operatingenvironment of the transportable service escrowed event reporting system100, according to an exemplary embodiment. As illustrated, thetransportable service escrowed event reporting system 100 may comprise amicroprocessor enabled controller 105 (which may or may not bedisposable) and one or more event detectors 110 a-c. The event detectors110 a-c may comprise any industry-standard, short-range wirelesssecurity or environmental sensors, such as, but not limited to,door/window opening detectors, glass breakage detectors, and motiondetectors. According to an exemplary embodiment, the controller 105 anddetectors 110 a-c may be sold in any packaging suitable for mass-marketdistribution. One such packaging may be blister-type packaging, whichmay comprise a plastic packaging material surrounding the portable eventreporting system 100. When packaged this way, the system 100 can be soldthrough mass-market sales channels, including, but not limited to,supermarkets, superstore, or via the Internet. This wide-spreadavailability of the portable event reporting system 100 is possiblebecause, unlike conventional systems, service and billing informationfor the portable event reporting system 100 is not required prior to aconsumer purchasing and installing the system 100 in his or her home oroffice (if at all).

As further illustrated in FIG. 1, the portable event reporting system100 may connect to a remote monitoring station 125 over a network 115.In an exemplary embodiment, the network 115 may comprise any wirelessdata network, whereby messages may be exchanged using SMS and/orconnection based protocols using commercially available wireless dataconnection capability such as that offered by GPRS or 1XRTT and theirderivatives. The remote monitoring station 125 may comprise athird-party, who may or may not manufacture and provide the portableevent reporting system 100 to the consumer.

In an exemplary embodiment, the portable event reporting system 100contacts the remote monitoring station 125 automatically over thenetwork 115 when it is powered on for the first time by the consumer.This may be done through a transceiver connected to or incorporatedwithin the controller 105, and may allow alarm device 105 to establishan operational identity (if not pre-assigned to the device, as discussedbelow), such as an EMSI, Electronic Serial Number, or MEID, and alsoallows the consumer the opportunity to configure the portable eventreporting system 100 and enter notification preferences for use with thesystem 100.

Connection through the network 115 may occur by using an identitypre-assigned to the controller 105. For example, an identity for awireless provider may be assigned to the controller 105 during itsmanufacture. In this way, the controller 105 may automatically connectto the network 115 when it is first powered on by the consumer.Alternatively, however, the controller 105 may be provided an identityafter it is powered on. In this exemplary embodiment, the consumer maycall a number found on the product packaging for the controller 105 orsystem 100 to connect to a remote monitoring station (e.g., dialing a1-800 number). The remote monitoring station 125 may then request thatthe consumer enter a unique identification for the device, such as thedevice's IMEI number, if GSM, or Electronic Serial Number or MEID ifCDMA or other wireless technology, for initializing the controller 105.

After the identification has been entered, the remote monitoring station125 may send a message to the controller via SMS or connection basedwireless data communication 105 over the network 115, in which case thecontroller 105 may respond with information in order to establish theoperational identity for the controller 105.

Further still, the controller 105 may be assigned a generic identity(i.e., an identity used for a group of controllers sold throughmass-market sales channels) for use at its initial power up. In thisexemplary embodiment, the controller may establish an operationalidentity by contacting the remote monitoring station 125 upon power-upusing the generic identity. Following this contact, the remotemonitoring station 125 may assign a different, unique operationalidentity to the controller 105 for any future communication between thecontroller 105 and the remote monitoring station 125.

Once the operational identity for the controller 105 has beendetermined, the system 100 may provide a wireless device unique identitynumber, such as the IMEI of a GSM device, or Electronic Serial Number orMEID if CDMA or other wireless technology, automatically to the remotemonitoring station 125 to ensure the device is identified properly.Alternatively, as discussed above, the consumer may provide thisinformation to the remote monitoring station 125 via a 1-800 number.

Further, the remote monitoring station 125 may prompt the consumer forinformation. This prompt may be sent over the network to the controller105 or the prompt may be performed through the use of a 1-800 number theconsumer uses to configure the system 100. In either case, the remotemonitoring station 125 may request contact information specifying wherereportable events should be reported. For example, the remote monitoringstation 125 may request the consumer to “specify a number to call when afire is detected” or “specify a number to call when a burglary isdetected.” In one exemplary embodiment, the controller 105 may comprisea LCD screen and keypad that allows the consumer to configure and enterinformation into the portable event reporting system 100. Thus, usingthese components, the consumer may enter an identification that willallow him or her to communicate with the controller 105 remotely. Thisidentification may comprise a pass-code, a mobile number through whichcalling line ID (“CLID”) can be checked, or another unique identifier.This pass-code may allow the consumer to validate himself or herselfwhen remotely connecting to the system 100. For example, if a consumerwishes to reconfigure the system 100, he or she may call the system 100with a mobile device. The system 100 may have stored the number for themobile device previously entered into the system 100 using thecontroller 105 keypad. In this way, the system 100 will recognize theCLID number for the mobile device and allow the consumer to change theconfiguration of the system 100 via data messages conveyed from theconsumer's cellular telephone, such as through SMS messages or email viawireless channelized data communications such as GPRS or 1XRTT and theirderivatives. Alternatively or additionally, when the consumer calls theportable system, he or she may speak or enter the pass-code or otheridentification information previously stored to use the system 100. Thispass code may also comprise the identity of the one or more mobiledevices that the consumer may authorize to re-configure the system 100.

In an exemplary embodiment, the transportable service escrowed eventreporting system 100 may communicate with a consumer mobile device 120over the network 115. Thus, when the consumer initializes the reportingservice, the consumer may also be prompted by the controller 105 toenter a mobile number to contact the consumer when directly reportingreportable events. This way, when the system 100 is in a direct reportmode, if the controller 105 receives a signal from one of the detectors110 attached to it, it may automatically send a message to the consumermobile device 120 over the network 115 using the number provided by theconsumer.

Turning to FIG. 2, because the portable event reporting system 100 maybe sold and marketed through mass-market channels, a consumer may simplyvisit a store and purchase a “kit” comprising the portable eventreporting system 100, take the kit to the desired location, install it,and initialize the system. FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary method forsetting up the transportable service escrowed event reporting system100. The process begins at step 205, where a consumer visits a store andpurchases the transportable service escrowed event reporting system 100.For example, the consumer can buy the system 100 at a retail outlet,where the system may be packaged in a blister pack that houses all itemsrequired to support the consumer's alarm service. Further, according toan exemplary embodiment, the consumer may purchase the system 100pre-packaged with communication services (i.e., pre-paid time or usageover a wireless network) that will support the controller's 105 initialset-up and basic operations. Further, new services may be acquired at alater date based on new purchases. For example, according to anexemplary embodiment, a tiered service level offering can be provided tothe consumer. Basic service may cover set-up and a pre-set number ofalarm event communications; advanced service may cover maintenance (inthe form of a periodic testing of the radio messaging system by theremote monitoring station 125) and a pre-set number of alarm eventcommunications; and premium service may cover regular tests of the radiomessaging system (e.g., daily or every pre-set number of days) incombination with a pre-set number of alarm event communications. Each ofthese services would be sold with their own escrowed service (i.e.,prepaid event reporting) and would require activation in a mannersimilar to that of the basic system in order to enable such advancedfeatures.

As mentioned above, the portable event reporting system 100 may comprisea radio transceiver or transmitter (not illustrated) for communicatingwith the network 115. This radio transceiver or transmitter may beintegrated within the controller or, in alternative embodiments, may bephysically separate from, but connected to, the controller. For example,in one exemplary embodiment, the controller 105 may not have atransceiver, but instead may be tethered or ported with a consumer'smobile device to communicate over the network 115. In either embodiment,a transceiver may—upon system power-up by a consumer—initiate anautomated configuration process with the server or remote monitoringstation 125 to identify the system 100 and/or controller 105.Specifically, as discussed, the radio transceiver may forward itspre-assigned operational identity to the remote monitoring station 125over the network 115 or it may receive an operational identity inresponse to a message sent by the remote monitoring station 125. Forexample, as mentioned, the remote monitoring station 125 may forward anoperational identity to the controller 105 based on the consumer'sinteraction with a 1-800 telephone service related to the remotemonitoring station 125. Further, the consumer may be allowed toreconfigure the radio and the alarm service through subsequentinteractions with a 1-800 telephone service related to the remotemonitoring station 125.

The system 100 may come pre-packaged with a certain number of eventdetectors 110. At step 210, the consumer installs the detectors 110 inappropriate places. As discussed, the detectors may comprise standardwireless detectors as known by one of ordinary skill in the art.

After the detectors are installed, the transportable service escrowedevent reporting system 100 may be initialized at step 215. In anexemplary process, this initialization occurs when the controller 105 isturned on for the first time and the portable event reporting system 100connects to the remote monitoring station 125 through the network 115and establishes an operational identity (as previously discussed).According to an exemplary embodiment, the system 100 may be turned on bythe consumer pulling a battery tab or by pressing a power button on thecontroller 105. The controller then automatically goes through theprocess of connecting to the remote monitoring station 110 (if alreadysupplied an identity) or awaits a message from the remote monitoringstation 110 (if not already supplied an identity).

After initialization, the system 100 may inform the consumer as to thecommunication status of the device (e.g., through a sound or blinkinglight indicating that the unit has properly connected to the remotemonitoring station 125). Then, if so equipped, the consumer may beprompted by an LCD display on the controller 105 to enter information toconfigure the event reporting system at step 220. During this step,according to an exemplary embodiment, the event reporting system 100 mayrequest that the consumer enter contact information into a keypadattached to the controller 105 in order to use the features of thesystem 100. Contact information may comprise, for example, a telephonenumber or email address for the consumer. The controller 105 may, inturn, forward the information collected from the consumer to the remotemonitoring station 125. Additionally, certain information may be storedin memory connected to the controller 105. For example, a consumer mayenter a preference for receiving reportable information by entering hisor her telephone number. The controller may store that number locally sothat it can route a message to the consumer relaying the occurrence of areportable event over the network 115.

Alternatively or in addition to the above, the controller 105 may promptthe consumer (using an on-device display screen, voice prompt, orthrough packaging material) to configure the radio for reporting eventsby interacting with a 1-800 telephone service. In particular, theconsumer may enter data via the 1-800 telephone to configure the system100 to communicate event data to the consumer in a preferred format,such as via email to a designated email address or by phone to a mobileor landline phone number. For example, as described above, during theinitial configuration of the system 100, a voice or display prompt onthe controller 105 can prompt the consumer to enter the radio's serialnumber, which is known to be associated with a unique identifierassigned to the radio.

In addition to the above, the consumer may also be prompted to enter anidentification at step 220 so that the consumer can control thecontroller remotely. For instance, the consumer may enter a CLIDidentifying his or her mobile device so that messages from that mobiledevice number can be used to control the portable event reporting system100. For instance, the system 100 can perform authentication of theconsumer's identity by recognition of the CLID of the consumer's mobiletelephone. However, in the alternative, the portable event reportingsystem 100 can perform authentication of the consumer's identity byinterpreting data messages conveyed from the consumer's cellulartelephone via DTMF tone sequences over the voice channel of the servingcellular system. Further, in yet another embodiment, the portable eventreporting system 100 can perform authentication of the consumer'sidentity by speech recognition of words spoken by the consumer andconveyed by the telephone. The consumer's spoken words may, for example,constitute a pass-code ID previously registered by the consumer usingthe controller 105.

Another prompt can request for the consumer to enter his or herpreferred contact mechanism (e.g., an e-mail address or telephonenumber) to be used for directly reporting the occurrence of a reportableevent. Upon completion of date entry by the consumer, the controller 105can initiate communications diagnostics and confirm the radio's abilityto receive and transmit messages to a remote monitoring station 125. Aprepaid data communications service can be provided at the outset ofradio operations to facilitate the initial communications exchange(set-up operations) between the controller 105 and the remote monitoringstation 125. In an exemplary embodiment, subsequent communications ofreportable events can be supported by the consumer's purchase ofadditional prepaid wireless minutes or reporting credits (through thecontroller 105 or via a 1-800 number connecting to the remote monitoringstation 125). Further, in another embodiment, the consumer may purchasethe unit from a mass-market sales channel wherein the system 100 iscapable of performing a finite number of communications (i.e., a certainamount of communication services used by the system 100 to reportreportable events may be pre-paid when the system 100 is purchased bythe consumer). It is noted that due to the service escrowed nature ofthe invention (i.e., it is capable of being a prepaid system), a monthlybilling service relationship with the company related to the remotemonitoring station 125 or provider of the portable event reportingsystem 100 is not required for operation of the radio or the alarm eventservice for a predetermined time or quantity of events. Thus, theportable event reporting system 100 offers the ability of a consumer toconveniently purchase a pre-paid event reporting system 100 thatrequires no information from the consumer prior to the purchase and useof the device (if at all).

The system 100 also provides the consumer the ability to select how heor she wishes to receive alerts, as illustrated at step 225. In oneexemplary embodiment, the consumer may wish to receive direct reportingfrom the system 100. In that case, the system 100 will report theoccurrence of reportable events through the wireless network 115directly to the device specified by the consumer. Messages sent tonotify the consumer of an occurrence of a reportable event may compriseany number of formats, including, but not limited to, text messages sentvia SMS or connection based wireless data service such as GPRS or 1XRTT,such as e-mail sent over the wireless network. According to an exemplaryembodiment, the specific format chosen for direct reporting may bespecified by the consumer when configuring (or reconfiguring) the system100.

Instead of having reportable events reported directly, the consumer mayalternatively choose to have the system 100 send report messages to athird-party intermediary. In an exemplary embodiment, this intermediarymay comprise the remote monitoring station 125. Accordingly, if theconsumer does not choose direct routing, then the system 100 will alertthe remote monitoring station 125 or other third-party over the network115 when it detects a reportable event. The remote monitoring station125, in turn, may notify the consumer through any number of wirelessformats including, but not limited to, SMS, connection based wirelessdata such as GPRS or 1XRTT, text-messaging, e-mail, or other mediumspecified by the consumer and within the capabilities of thetransportable service escrowed event reporting system 100.

As discussed, the transportable service-escrowed event reporting system100 may be sold by a company through mass-market channels without priorcommunications with the consumer. In an exemplary embodiment, the system100 may come with a finite period of time that the product may be usedto report reportable events. This length of time (or other finite usageof the system 100) may, optionally, be extended by the consumerpurchasing additional time through the controller 105 or calling theremote monitoring station 125 via a 1-800 number. Additionally, inanother exemplary embodiment, a consumer may extend the length of timethe system 100 may be used to report reportable events by providing tothe remote monitoring station 125 (through the controller or via a 1-800number) information concerning one or more pre-paid usage cards, such aspre-paid cellular service cards. For example, according to one exemplaryembodiment, a consumer may purchase a pre-paid cellular calling card (orpre-paid event reporting card) and enter the information for that cardinto the controller 105 to extend the capabilities of the system throughcooperative business arrangements between the prepaid cellular serviceprovider and the operator of the transportable service escrowed eventreporting system 100. In this way, a consumer may purchase and use theevent reporting system 100 without ever being required to establish abilling identity with the system 100 or the remote monitoring station125.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary process for initializing and using theportable event reporting system 100 through the use of a remotemonitoring station 125. The process begins at step 305, where the remotemonitoring station 125 receives an initialization command from thecontroller 105 of the event reporting system 100. In an exemplaryembodiment, the remote monitoring station 125 must know the physicalidentity of the wireless event reporting system 100. In the GSMprotocol, for example, this identity is known as the InternationalMobile Equipment Identity (“IMEI”), which is a unique identifier usedfor GSM and UMTS mobile network consumers. Thus, IMEI or another type ofoperational identity may be used as a unique address for the portableevent reporting system for use on the network 115. The identity of thesystem 100 allows the remote monitoring station to detect the amount ofpre-paid monitoring services the consumer is entitled to (if any) usingthe system. For example, certain portable systems 100 may be purchasedwith a finite amount of pre-paid reporting services. Therefore, when theidentity of the system 100 is provided to the remote monitoring station125, the remote monitoring station 125 may perform, at step 310, alook-up based on the identity to determine and transmit the amount ofpre-paid reporting services to the system 100.

Further, once the remote monitoring station 125 receives an operationalidentity from the wireless event reporting system 100, in an exemplaryembodiment, the remote monitoring station 125 can assign asub-identifier to the controller 105 associated with the reportingwireless radio device (which may be a derivative of the operationalidentity). For example, upon initial power-up, the event reportingsystem 100 (through the use of a radio transmitter communicably attachedto the controller 105) can transmit a message comprising the system's100 IMEI to initiate the set-up process. This IMEI will be assigned tothe portable event reporting system 100. The remote monitoring station125 receives the IMEI and responds by assigning a telephone number tothe radio associated with the IMEI. In an alternative embodiment, theremote monitoring station 125 can initiate the transmission of IMEI bythe radio based on a consumer's entry of data in response to informationprovided by the consumer via a 1-800 telephone service.

Based on the receipt of this initialization, the remote monitoringstation 125 establishes a connection with the system 100 over thenetwork 115. Through this connection, information may be exchanged bythe consumer and the remote monitoring station 125. For example, duringinitial configuration, the system 100 may prompt the consumer forinformation over the network 115. Information that may be pertinent tothe event reporting system 100 includes, but is not limited to, theconsumer's name and a mobile number where the consumer would like toreceive messages related to reportable events. Thus, regardless of theinformation requested or sent to the remote monitoring station, in step315, information may be provided to the remote monitoring station 125directly through the system 100 (e.g., through interaction with thekeypad and LCD on the controller 105). Alternatively, as discussed, aconsumer may also provide information to the remote monitoring station125 in step 315 via a telephone call to the host server of the remotemonitoring station 125 or via an Internet website interaction (i.e.,through the completion of a form at a website).

Once the consumer has supplied information allowing the remotemonitoring station 125 to activate a service escrowed account for theconsumer, the remote monitoring station 125 may then monitor forcommunications from the portable event reporting system 100 at step 320.In this way, the remote monitoring station 125 may act as a monitoringcenter for reportable events. However, unlike conventional systems, theremote monitoring station will receive messages from the portable eventreporting system 100 over a wireless network 115 and may forwardmessages to the consumer over the wireless network 115 based on theinformation provided by the consumer.

Turning to FIG. 4, an exemplary method for using the portable eventreporting system 100 to detect and report reportable events isillustrated. The process begins at step 405, where one or more of theportable detectors 110 detects a reportable event. Upon detecting theevent, the detector 110 sends a message, at step 410, to the controller105 using a standard wireless protocol, e.g., via a radio-frequencychannel. When the controller 105 receives the notice of the reportableevent, it may choose, at step 415, how to alert the consumer. Accordingto an exemplary embodiment, the system 100 may report the occurrence ofan event to the consumer through either direct or intermediatereporting.

If the consumer has chosen a specific type of reporting, then thecontroller 105 proceeds as configured by the consumer. For example, ifthe consumer has chosen direct reporting, then the controller 105follows step 420, by sending a message over the network 115 to theconsumer's mobile device 120. However, if the consumer has chosenintermediate reporting, then the controller forwards the notice of thereportable event, at step 425, to the remote monitoring station 125 orother third-party host server. The remote monitoring station 125 maythen contact the authorities, if necessary, or send a message to theconsumer at step 430. According to an exemplary embodiment, the messagefrom the remote monitoring station 125 may comprise an SMS or wirelessdata connection based messages, such as GPRS or 1XRTT and theirderivatives.

In view of the foregoing, it will be understood that the presentinvention provides a portable event reporting system 100 suitable formarketing as a transportable service escrowed device for which norecurring billing identity is initially assigned to the product (if atall). The transportable service escrowed event reporting system canaccomplish its initial communications through wireless interaction witha remote host server during initial power-up. In the alternative, theportable event reporting system 100 can accomplish its initialcommunications identity via automatic configuration through wirelessinteraction with a remote host server (e.g., remote monitoring station125) initiated by the consumer placing a telephone call to a servercapable of interaction through voice prompts or DTMF tones. For example,the consumer may call a “1-800” number and establish service with theprovider of the portable event reporting system 100.

In contrast to conventional monitoring systems, the portable reportingsystem 100 can report an alarm directly to the consumer in certainexemplary embodiments. For example, the occurrence of a reportable eventmay be conveyed from the event reporting system 100 to the consumer inthe form of discrete SMS messages presented on the screen of theconsumer's wireless device. In the alternative, alarm reporting can beconveyed from the event reporting system 100 to the consumer viacellular telephone based data connection services utilizing GeneralPacket Radio Service (GPRS), 1XRTT, 1XEV-DO, 1XMC, 3XMC or WCDMA datachannels in the form of a discrete text message presented on the screenof the consumer's wireless device. For yet another aspect of theinvention, alarm reporting to the consumer can be completed via emailthat is conveyed wirelessly from the event reporting system via eithercellular telephone based Short Messaging Service (SMS) or General PacketRadio Services (GPRS), 1XRTT, 1XEV-DO, 1XMC, 3XMC or WCDMA wireless datachannels for presentation on the consumer's cellular telephone screen,pager, PDA or personal computer. Further, alarm or event reporting tothe consumer can also be completed in the form of spoken words createdby conversion of alarm data into audio synthesized speech that can beconveyed to a consumer preset telephone number via a voice channeltelephone call.

In addition to direct reporting reportable events, the system 100 mayalso be configured to report the occurrence of the reportable events toan intermediary. In an exemplary embodiment, alarm or event reportingcan be supported through a third-party intermediary, such as a remotemonitoring station, using proprietary or alarm industry standard tonesequences within the audio channel of cellular telephony, datarepresentations of alarm industry data formats conveyed via the SMS datachannel of cellular telephony, or data representations of alarm industrydata formats conveyed via the connection based wireless data channel ofGPRS, 1XRTT and their derivatives of cellular telephony.

While the portable event reporting system 100 has been described ascomprising a controller 105 and event detectors 110, it is noted thatthe system 100 may be packages and sold in many differentconfigurations. For example, in an alternative embodiment, a cell phonemay operate as part of the portable event reporting system 100. That is,a cell phone may comprise or be communicably attached to the controller105. In one exemplary embodiment, a cell phone comprising the controller105 may be disposable, and the consumer may purchase one or morewireless event detectors separately or with the cell phone. In thisembodiment, the cell phone may have a finite service life period (i.e.,may be prepaid). The phone may have software embedded within it fordetection of reportable events transmitted by wireless event detectors.Detection of these reportable events, in an exemplary embodiment, mayresult in a wireless transmission through designated alert mechanisms,such as through email or a call to a phone number of the consumer.According to this exemplary embodiment, a consumer may buy thedisposable phone package and one or more separate event sensors thatcommunicate with the controller comprised with the cell phone.Alternatively, however, the cell phone may not be disposable and maycomprise a cell phone already owned by a consumer. In this exemplaryembodiment, a consumer may buy a software package that can be downloaded(or otherwise added) to an existing phone. For example, a consumer maypurchase a replacement SIM card for insertion into an existing cellphone that would thereby allow the phone to function as the controller105 within the operating environment of the portable event reportingsystem 100. Further, as described previously in another exemplaryembodiment, a cell phone may be tethered or otherwise attached to thecontroller 105 to function as a transceiver for the system 100.

Although the portable event reporting system 100 has been described inexemplary form with a certain degree of particularity, it should beunderstood that the present disclosure has been made only by way ofexample, and that numerous changes and details of construction, as wellas the combination and arrangement of parts or steps, may be resorted towithout departing from the spirit of scope of the invention.Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is defined by theappended claims rather than the foregoing description.

1. A system for data acquisition and processing for optimising theeffectiveness of billboard and/or electronic signage advertisingcampaigns wherein said advertising campaigns running in newspapersand/or magazines and/or on TV, and said system further comprising aplurality of wireless or fixed line devices each of said plurality ofwireless or fixed line devices for capturing a printed or electronicallydisplayed encoded datagram, and means for combining said capturedencoded datagram with data about each of said wireless or fixed linedevices capturing said encoded datagram and/or each of said wireless orfixed line device's location and/or the subscription associated witheach of said wireless or fixed line device, and means for furthertransmitting said combined data together with said captured encodeddatagram to a remote server, characterised in that: said remote servercomprising means for decoding said transmitted data and for building adataset of all of said transmitted data, and means for determining thenumber of persons and/or locations where an interest in said advertisingcampaigns was registered, and means for further determining whichpublications generating the greatest interest from consumers throughconversion tracking.
 2. A system for data acquisition and processing foroptimising the effectiveness of billboard and/or electronic signageadvertising campaigns as disclosed in claim 1 wherein the participationin a datagram advertising promotion further comprising an ‘opt-in’clause for allowing consumers to give permission for their details to bestored and to allow them to be contacted for other offers.
 3. A systemfor data acquisition and processing for optimising the effectiveness ofbillboard and/or electronic signage advertising campaigns as disclosedin claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of wireless or fixed linedevices capture of encoded datagram being either completed by each ofsaid plurality of wireless or fixed line capturing devices furthercomprising means for verifying the image quality of said encodeddatagram, or by setting up a continuous video data-link with a remoteserver wherein said remote server sending a feedback to each of saidplurality of wireless or fixed line devices when said capture beingcompleted.
 4. A system for data acquisition and processing foroptimising the effectiveness of billboard and/or electronic signageadvertising campaigns as disclosed in claim 3 wherein said remote dataprocessing server further comprising means for processing images whereinsaid means for processing images being stenography image processingmeans or means for recognising vehicle licence plate numbers within avisual field where said images being at different angles and havingdifferent sizes and being in different places within the visual field.5. A system for data acquisition and processing for optimising theeffectiveness of billboard and/or electronic signage advertisingcampaigns as disclosed in claim 4 wherein said remote server furthercomprising means for sending a software application to said capturingwireless or fixed line device, and/or means for transmitting a datamessage comprising a product token being a special offer to saidcapturing wireless or fixed line device and/or to an email addressassociated with said subscription associated with said wireless or fixedline device.
 6. A system for data acquisition and processing foroptimising the effectiveness of billboard and/or electronic signageadvertising campaigns as disclosed in claim 1 wherein an advertcomprising text and said associated encoded datagram wherein saidencoded datagram further comprising image information and/or a barcodeand/or a company logo.
 7. A system for data acquisition and processingfor optimising the effectiveness of billboard and/or electronic signageadvertising campaigns as disclosed in claim 1 wherein said remote serverfurther comprising means for storing identification data transmittedwith said encoded datagram in a data archive.
 8. A system for dataacquisition and processing for optimising the effectiveness of billboardand/or electronic signage advertising campaigns as disclosed in claim 7wherein said identification data comprising; advertising data and/oradvertising campaign identity and/or product identity and/or billboardlocation and/or publication identity and/or subscriber identity and/orsubscriber gender and/or subscriber age and/or device location and/ortime of day and/or date and/or device make and model and/or phone numberand/or IP address of device.
 9. A system for data acquisition andprocessing for optimising the effectiveness of billboard and/orelectronic signage advertising campaigns as disclosed in claim 8 whereinsaid data archive further comprising means for indexing differentattributes of said identification data in order to create a differentialdata archive for targeting a direct-to-consumer marketing campaign basedupon data mining one or a plurality of said stored data attributes inongoing and future advertising campaigns.
 10. A system for dataacquisition and processing for optimising the effectiveness of billboardand/or electronic signage advertising campaigns as disclosed in claim 9wherein said differential data archive further comprising means fordetermining advertising locations or publications generating the highestconversion tracking or registrations of consumer interest, and means fordesigning effective advertising campaigns at lower cost by restrictingthe placement of advertisements to the most effective locations andpublications.
 11. A method for data acquisition and processing foroptimising the effectiveness of billboard and/or electronic signageadvertising campaigns wherein said advertising campaigns running innewspapers and/or magazines and/or on TV, and said system furthercomprising a plurality of wireless or fixed line devices each of saidplurality of wireless or fixed line devices capturing a printed orelectronically displayed encoded datagram, and combining said capturedencoded datagram with data about each of said wireless or fixed linedevices capturing said encoded datagram and/or each of said wireless orfixed line device's location and/or the subscription associated witheach of said wireless or fixed line device, and further transmittingsaid combined data together with said captured encoded datagram to aremote server, said method being characterised by the steps of: decodingsaid transmitted data and building a dataset of all of said transmitteddata by said remote server, and further determining the number ofpersons and/or locations where an interest in said advertising campaignswas registered, and determining which publications generating thegreatest interest from consumers through conversion tracking.
 12. Amethod for data acquisition and processing for optimising theeffectiveness of billboard and/or electronic signage advertisingcampaigns according to claim 11 wherein the participation in a datagramadvertising promotion further comprising an ‘opt-in’ clause for allowingconsumers to give permission for their details to be stored and forallowing said consumers to be contacted for other offers.
 13. A methodfor data acquisition and processing for optimising the effectiveness ofbillboard and/or electronic signage advertising campaigns according toclaim 11 wherein said step of capturing an encoded datagram by each ofsaid plurality of wireless or fixed line devices, further comprising thestep of either completing said encoded datagram capture and verifyingthe image quality of said encoded datagram by each of said plurality ofwireless or fixed line capturing devices or by sending an MMS message toa real-time processing application further verifying that said image canbe successfully read, or setting up a continuous video data-link withsaid remote server sending a feedback to each of said plurality ofwireless or fixed line devices when said capture being completed by saidremote server.
 14. A method for data acquisition and processing foroptimising the effectiveness of billboard and/or electronic signageadvertising campaigns according to claim 11 wherein said remote dataprocessing server further comprising means for processing images whereinsaid means for processing images being stenography image processingmeans or means for recognising vehicle licence plate numbers within avisual field where said images being at different angles and havingdifferent sizes and being in different places within the visual field.15. A method for data acquisition and processing for optimising theeffectiveness of billboard and/or electronic signage advertisingcampaigns according to claim 11 wherein said step of decoding saidtransmitted data being followed by the steps of; sending back anacknowledgement signal to each of said wireless or fixed line capturingdevices and/or sending a software application to said capturing wirelessor fixed line device, and/or transmitting a data message comprising aproduct token being a special offer to each of said capturing wirelessor fixed line devices and/or to an email address associated with saidsubscription associated with each of said wireless or fixed linedevices.
 16. A method for data acquisition and processing for optimisingthe effectiveness of billboard and/or electronic signage advertisingcampaigns according to claim 14 further comprising the steps of; storingidentification data transmitted with said encoded datagram in a dataarchive at said remote server and indexing different attributes of saididentification data for creating a differential data archive for furthertargeting a direct-to-consumer marketing campaign based upon data miningone or a plurality of said stored data attributes in ongoing and futureadvertising campaigns.
 17. A method for data acquisition and processingfor optimising the effectiveness of billboard and/or electronic signageadvertising campaigns according to claim 15 wherein said identificationdata comprising; advertising data and/or advertising campaign identityand/or product identity and/or billboard location and/or publicationidentity and/or subscriber identity and/or subscriber gender and/orsubscriber age and/or device location and/or time of day and/or dateand/or device make and model and/or phone number and/or IP address ofdevice.
 18. A method for data acquisition and processing for optimisingthe effectiveness of billboard and/or electronic signage advertisingcampaigns according to claim 15 further comprising the steps of;determining advertising locations or publications generating the highestconversion tracking or registrations of consumer interest, and designingeffective advertising campaigns at lower cost by restricting theplacement of advertisements to the most effective locations andpublications.
 19. A method for data acquisition and processing foroptimising the effectiveness of billboard and/or electronic signageadvertising campaigns according to claim 18 further comprising the stepsof; linking an advertising campaign to a promotion with anothercommercial partner, and/or sending a token to a consumer to be used withthe other commercial partner wherein said token being a 20% off theprice of a product or service.
 20. A method for data acquisition andprocessing for optimising the effectiveness of billboard and/orelectronic signage advertising campaigns according to claim 18 furthercomprising the steps of; using geo-tracing data wherein said geo-tracingdata being cell-ID or E-OTD or GPS for determining when an ‘opted-in’consumer being near to a particular store or restaurant for sending atoken at that moment to said consumer for use in that store orrestaurant.